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Call for Proposals: Understanding Inequality: Promoting Equity

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South Africa is a highly unequal society. International evidence indicates that high inequality acts as a constraint on growth, and that where growth does take place in a context of high inequality, it tends not to impact significantly on poverty.

  • How does inequality impact on growth and on the poverty impacts of growth in the South African context? What does this mean for our ability to meet the AsgiSA targets – and for social and economic policy? 
  • How do different dimensions of inequality interact? For example, how do strategies to address asset inequality interact with income poverty? What is the role of the social wage and public goods relative to other forms of incomes and assets?
  • What policy instruments and strategies are being used to tackle inequality, and with what impacts? What is working, what lessons are being learned and what alternative approaches could lead to greater impacts on poverty?

The Second Economy Strategy Project will support research that deepens our understanding of these and other questions about inequality, its impact on poverty and the policy options to reduce it. All proposals should be submitted by 14 March 2008. The Second Economy Strategy Project is an initiative of the Presidency, hosted by
Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS).

Guidelines

The guidelines for proposals are:

  • Evidence-based research Proposals that review South African and international programmes and strategies aimed at reducing inequality, and quantitative approaches that use existing survey data to explore and explain trends are strongly encouraged.
  • Multi-dimensional focus Traditionally, inequality measures have focussed on income. However, inequality has a significantly more multi-dimensional focus. Case studies that explore the diverse manifestations of impacts of inequality would strengthen not only our understanding, but also open new areas for strategy.
  • Implementation focus Research papers that include not only a critical focus on the impacts of government policy but also propose policy and strategy options will be favourably considered. 
  • Diversity One of the aims of the Call for Proposals is to encourage diversity of cases, approaches, methodology and recommendations in order to provide high-quality inputs into debate, policy design and implementation.

Application Procedure

All research proposals should reach TIPS by 14 March 2008 and should not exceed five pages.

Applications should include a description of the proposed research, the methodology, a project budget, an abridged profile and CV for team members, and an indication of past research in this area. 

There are two deadlines for the completed research:

  • Desktop studies: 2 May 2008
  • Primary research / Extended desktop studies: 6 September 2008

Maximum funding available for research to May 2008: R150,000
Maximum funding available for research to September 2008: R250,000

Funding decisions will be based on budgets submitted and will take into account the costs associated with the methodology to be used and the team composition proposed.

Successful applicants will be expected to make themselves available (where practically possible) to present the material at two workshops or conferences as part of the research fee (excluding transport and accommodation costs, if applicable).

TIPS and the Second Economy Project’s decisions on proposals are final.

Applications should be emailed to Glenda Muzenda at glenda@tips.org.za at TIPS and to Ebrahim-Khalil Hassen at ekhassen@gmail.com.  

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